Post by kenji nakamura d5m {lance} on Dec 29, 2018 19:19:08 GMT -5

The first round of matches were over, as were the first round of consolation matches. Four competitors were already eliminated from the competition in full, but for eight others, the chances of the crown were still very much alive

Taking place in the same ring as before, this match was between two unlikely underdogs that prevailed against more reputable opponents - with one toppling a Hammerfell and the other escaping from Cage Leveille's grasp with a win.

But that was now behind them, and thoughts of victory were alive in the minds of both competitors as the bell signaled the beginning of what they hoped would be their second victory

This match is between Serpentino Reznik (Mattio) and Cordelia Sevalki (Calla)

Post by mattio on Dec 29, 2018 19:20:15 GMT -5

{serpen}tino reznik

There was one thing that my mother taught me as I grew up that I never quite forgot. The idea of ‘not fighting with a lady’ was drilled into my mind since day one as something that I shouldn’t believe. The people of District Two are strong, men, women, and child alike, and should be treated as such. After all, our district prepares people to become peacekeepers, and trains them for the games, both of which don’t discriminate against your gender.

Defeating Ubbe Hammerfell led me to my second match of the day: a lady. Cordelia Sevlaki, to be exact. I know nothing of her other than what I discovered when I first laid eyes on her, but it was all I needed. A fight is a fight, no matter someone’s height, weight, weapon, or gender. The initial glaive I used, speckled with Ubbe Hammerfell’s blood, became my weapon of choice once again.

I kissed the blade before looking up at my opponent.

“I hope you’re not offended, but I don’t believe in ‘ladies first.’ Hope you can forgive me,” and with that, I swing.

Post by d1m emmett le roux [calla] on Dec 29, 2018 19:33:04 GMT -5

i think mybalance is off now.

lopsided - i've never been anything but perfect, strong, beautiful. i've never been anything but cordelia. but cage leveille has made me someone. this ring has made me someone. i think this boy will make me someone else.

he kisses his blade.i think of someone else lips.

and he swipes, a morning star, a rising sun, and the world blurs, lightens into a sunrise. i miss the feeling of warmth on my face. i miss the feeling of arms around me. but it doesn't matter now, because my knee goes out andthe floor is suddenly much closer. daunting. there's blood, less than before, but more than i think is okay and i can see my reflection. i think i shake.

Post by mattio on Dec 29, 2018 19:45:46 GMT -5

{serpen}tino reznik

My blade adds a new set of DNA to it’s list of encounters in the shape of Cordelia Sevaki. Her words come after I cut deep into her leg, saying that chivalry is truly dead. I laugh for a second as her weapon, nearly identical to Hammerfell’s comes close to my flesh. I hold my glaive on both sides, blocking her swipe from connecting.

“Chivalry isn’t dead. We’re just equals here, you and I, in the ring.”

I wipe a bit of her blood off the blade, just enough to see my face, distorted in the metal. Just as beautiful as her, just as strong as her. All it takes is a bit of luck in fights like these, doesn’t matter what you are, male or female or anything like it. Fighting based on attributes is like fighting blind.

I swing again, speaking to her as my blade moves toward her open flesh once again. “But chivalry, yeah, fuck that. Cold blood and sharp blades make for a free and unforgiving spirit, you know.”

Like the serpent itself I’m cold blooded, and every move I make comes with a toxic bite.

Post by d1m emmett le roux [calla] on Dec 29, 2018 19:58:51 GMT -5

i feel his eyes from the crowd. on my hands, on my skin, on my blood. i'm torn between two places - the earth and the sky, in some kind of limbo. because he is the sun and i am the grass, withering, burning up from the only thing that keeps me alive.

i hear the words from my mother.be better be better be better be better -but only half of them.

lopsided.

he's saying something, the boy in front of me, and i only hear bits and pieces. it's hard to focus. there's a ringing somewhere above my head. we're equals here but he has a strength that catches my eye, words that float their way into my ribcage. my laugh sounds like metal clashing.

"if blades offered freedom-i wouldn't be here."

i gasp, when he moves again, all wrong and wet-sounding. there must water in my lungs again. and i swear i'm more red than anything else now. my heart stutters. it's his favourite colour. the room is quiet again.

Post by mattio on Dec 29, 2018 20:15:55 GMT -5

{serpen}tino reznik

She’s clearly out of it when my blade closes in on her body once again. Her last opponent must have done a number on her, either that or she wasn’t meant to be in the ring at all. I suppose that I paraded the Hammerfell head on my shoulders for a moment too long, confident that this would be a victory in my own corner. It was only for a second that I released my eyes from her matching weapon, but that second became costly.

I heard her blade chop at my hand. The crack came rapidly, almost too quick to feel, but the pain came like a blazing fire ravaging through an unknowing forest. It’s my fingers. I look down, my right hand’s ring finger lying at on floor completely. My middle finger feels a bit funny too, but at least it is still attached.

With my throbbing right hand, I stick up my middle finger to the girl. Fuck that.

“That.. truly wasn’t kind. I like my fingers, Cordelia.”

My words are angrier than they were before with Ubbe or previously with this opponent. Pain is not a nice feeling when you’re on the receiving end. This tournament has taught me that.

My mind doesn’t miss a beat as I hear my father yelling to keep the fight going. I swing, this time with enough anger to move mountains.

A head shot from Hammerfell and a lost finger from Cordelia, low blows will be the catalyst to my ascent.